Camden County GaArchives History .....History of Coleraine ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bob Hurst lat@wayxcable.com March 8, 2004, 10:46 am (EDITOR'S NOTE: The heated meetings at Coleraine on the St. Marys River could almost be compared with many international disputes. Agreement was most unlikely as the Indians, Georgians and Federal agents met to discuss current issues and believed wrongs committed by each on the other in the 1700s.) THE BENDING ST. MARYS RIVER PASSES OLD COLERAINE ON HER WAY TO THE SEA Here, The Sparkling Campfires Of Yesteryear Signalled The Coming Together Of The Tribes By Robert Latimer Hurst Campfires sparkle in the distance. The quietness of the marshland was only interrupted by the soft lapping and sucking of water against a muddy bank of a river. Occasionally the murmuring "whoo" of the owl or muffled voices of the campers broke the silence. But with the deepening darkness, even the owl became quiet as if the wise old bird knew everything must be calm for the coming dawn. Early May in South Georgia and North Florida is warm. It becomes even warmer as the sun moves into its noonday position. The heat from the late vernal season, however, was not the cause for the discomfort of the campers in this river village near the St. Marys River in the spring of 1796. Coleraine, located in the extreme southwest corner of Camden County, Georgia, and across the St. Marys from the old, now-vanished town of Kings Ferry, Florida, had become an Indian trading post before 1786. By December 1, of the same year, a grant made by Georgia to James Armstrong and James Seagrove, two traders from St. Thomas (now St. Marys, Georgia), gave 2,300 acres to Armstrong and 2,000 acres to Seagrove. These men, perhaps not the most enthusiastic about the gifts so close to hostile Spanish Florida, probably did realize the potentiality of the marshland and riverbanks territory. And if the Creek Indians could be enticed into friendly trading relations, the value of this land would increase considerably. Seventeen hundred and ninety-six found Coleraine with one of the first government stores, placed here one year earlier purposefully for bartering with the Creeks. As is the case, with one problem partially solved, another difficulty arose to take the former's place. This time it was the squatters, immigrants who came up the St. Marys and who began settling the land by squatter's rights. Later, this land was surveyed, and titles were claimed from Georgia with the official beeswax seal. But the Creek Indians were not happy with the white man who was overrunning their hunting grounds. Provisions must be made between all persons concerned, or open warfare would occur. Word passed throughout the wilderness and representatives from the Creek Nation, from Georgia and from the Federal Government congregated at Coleraine. Twenty kings, 75 chiefs and 340 warriors spread themselves along the riverbank. Benjamin Hawkins, George Clymer and Andrew Pickens, United States Commissioners, and their entourage of soldiers, along with Georgia delegates -- James Jackson, James Sims and James Hendricks --evidently camped nearer the sparsely settled community. Hence the campfires and preparation for a parley to determine the fate of the Southeastern section of the United States became not only the talk of New York, Washington City, and interior Georgia but a reality in Coleraine. The day dawned over the lush, green swampland; but the calm, beautiful late spring day greatly conflicted with the emotions of those present on the banks of the St. Marys. Determined that all should agree to the Federal Government's proposal, the Commissioners spoke of peace and friendship among the Indians and the citizens of the U.S. Almost stoic, the Creeks listened. Speeches and discussions lasted almost two months --until June 29, 1796. The Indians, after much smoking of the peace pipe and drinking the white man's rum and wine, pledged to abide by the New York treaty and also promised to aid in the running the line between Spanish Florida and the United States; they also agreed to help insure peace between the squatters and Indians. However, the redmen refused to cede any of the territory between the Oconee and Ocumulgee rivers to Georgia. Results of the Coleraine conference were very displeasing to the Georgians, who evidently could not imagine the savages occupying so much of central Georgia. Jackson, the outspoken Georgia delegate, arose when the treaty was completed. In a lengthy speech, he pointed out that these primitives had never been faithful in observing their treaties with his state. The representative, then, whipped forth two schedules of property which the Indians had stolen. "This amount, Gentlemen, totals $110,000. I demand this sum be restored to the State of Georgia!" Only grunts indicating attentive listening accompanied the Georgian, but Jackson had created a stir. One "Big Warrior," a prominent chief, remarked in slow deliberation: "I can fill up more paper than Jackson has done with a list of similar outrages of the Georgians upon my people." Added to bad Indian relationships were the disagreements that sprung up between the Georgians and the Indian Agent Seagrove, who had earlier remakred that he had rather have a hatchet in his back than to be sent to Coleraine. It was also strongly felt that the Federal Commissioners disregarded the interest of Georgia at the St. Marys riverbank meet. (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second of a two-part series on Coleraine, located on the St. Marys River in Camden County. It was here that the Indian treaties were signed that set in motion the settling of Southeast Georgia.) THE OLD MARKER, SET IN PLACE IN 1912, WAS PULLED UP THE ST. MARYS RIVER BY OXEN A Reminder To What Happened In Coleraine Is Still Viewed By The Casual Visitor To The Isolated Spot By Robert Latimer Hurst Georgia did not gain anything in the deliberation that brought the Indians, the Federal authorities and the Georgia delegation to Coleraine. In fact, a bitter controversy between the state and the Feds ensued. This argument ended several years later with Georgia winning out by open and threatening defiance. But the treaty, which was put into action at Coleraine, that once-upon-a-time village on the St. Marys River in Camden County, changed the course of history for the young United States; for it was the beginning of the end of the powerful and proud Castillian to the south in Spanish Florida. Theyn had lost an ally in the Indian, and their power had been limited by the drawing of the peace line. Although modern historians seem to ignore this chapter in American history, the Lyman Hall Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Waycross, Georgia, did not forget the signing of the treaty between the Creek Nation and the U.S. Commissioners. In April, 1912, a huge granite boulder was pulled up the St. Marys River by oxen and placed on the very spot, it is said, where the treaty was signed. Inscribed on the plate attached to the monument is the following: "This boulder marks the site of the old town of Coleraine, where the treaty of peace and friendship was made on June 29, 1796, between the President of the United States and kings, chiefs and warriors of the Creek Nation of Indians. Ratified March 18, 1797. The Commissioners on the part of the United States were Benjamin Hawkins, George Clymer and Andrew Pickens." Coleraine would never become a metropolis. Perhaps its only claim to fame was as a minor Runnymede for the signing of a peace treaty and, ironically, as a point of assembly in 1812 for troops readying for the invasion of East Florida's Seminoles. On December 1, 1812, a group of Tennessee Volunteers, who had read of Indians uprisings in Florida, did not wait for state or a national call to arms. Again, the Creek were threatening their sister state of Georgia. With ages ranging from 18 to 80, these East Tennesseans began their adventure from the campus of the University of Tennessee. While preparations were being made, the leader of the Volunteers, John Williams, wrote President James Madison to explain in full the mission: "Late intelligence shows a want of troops in East Florida, to check the hostile savages. A considerable part of the Georgia militia, it is said, have refused to afford relief to the troops of the United States, stationed at St. Johns, from a fatal exposition of the constitution relative to the militia." Before the new year, the troops were at Camp Pinckney, a few miles east of Coleraine. Williams would meet General Thomas Flournoy at the old trading post to make final arrangements for an expedition against the Seminoles. The Tennessee leader had also informed Georgia's Governor Mitchell of the Volunteers' plans. The state executive officer found himself in a peculiar position. He could not welcome the Tennesseans wholeheartedly because this act would imply failure of Georgians as Indian fighters. On the other hand, how could he, as Governor of Georgia, refujse the aid offered by a neighboring state? So Georgia and Tennessee united forces in the fight against the Seminoles. Only the Federal Government had kept Georgia from acting alone in this capacity earlier, reports Rembert W. Patrick in his Florida Fiasco. But another reason was quite evident. The Indians had asked for peace; war was unnecessary, and the Tennessee Volunteers were interfering with negotiations being conducted by Benjamin Hawkins, one of the signers of the earlier Creek - U.S. peace treaty. An editorial from the Georgia Journal stated:"The Indians have offered to lay down their arms and submit to any terms, even the most humiliating, which the United States might think proper to prescribe. Of this fact there can be no doubt. A more ardent desire for peace, we may venture to affirm, was never manifested by any people whatever. They propose the restore not only the property of the whites, but to deliver up all the offenders against our laws. Could we ask --could they do more? Why then make war upon them? Why drive them from their homes and firesides, perhaps to utter ruin, a poor defenseless, miserable race of beings who are supplicating, as it were, mercy upon their knees?" Hawkins asked General Thomas Pinckney to stop the drive against the Seminoles. Unless Hawkins could secure an immediate submission on all terms demanded by the U.S. and Indian hostages equal in number to American citizens killed,Pinckney would refuse the request. Word from Washington would also determine Pinckney's actions. After a month of holding the Volunteers at Coleraine, no word came from President Madison. Hawkins evidently could not live up to the proposed agreements. Invasion of East Florida was the order. The troops moved into Indian territory to find evacuated campsites and villages. The redman had been warned. As the soldiers moved onward, battle was imminent. But, at first, there were only sniper attacks. The Volunteers gave vent to their disappointment and lack of action by burning the deserted huts and palmetto buildings. On February 17, there was a general withdrawal; and by February 24, 1813, the troops were again encamped at Coleraine. Twenty Indians had been killed during the invasion. "Nine Indians and Negroes were captured, four whom escaped and five were brought back... a wounded woman, an aged Negro man, and one Indian squaw with her child were displayed in Coleraine as booty of war." writes Patrick. The last reported convening in Coleraine was in December 1814. East Florida's Governor Sebastian Kindelan strongly believed that Georgians were responsible for the lawlessness in the Spanish province. The Napoleonic wars had weakened Spain; therefore her colonies also suffered, and internal and external difficulties added their weight. Kindelan in desperation asked Georgia Governor Peter Early to "disperse or punish individuals who planned a raid into Florida from Coleraine." But off and on through the years, the now deserted town of Coleraine sparkled with incidents that added color to Southern American history. One such occurrence is the settling of the area. They were called "herrin jerkers." Seventeen young men from Maine came up the St. Marys to work for the vast timber tracts. The "river rats" probably entered on the three-mast sailing schooners, which ended their runs in the early 1900s. Ancestors of many citizens now living in South Georgia and North Florida, these lumbermen quickly learned the ways of the "River of May." Relying on the tides to carry timber out of the swampy sections, the pioneers would cut prize cypress and pine; then they would sever the outer sap into the heart, an act which stops the circulation in the tree. After two or three years, the lumber, dried and sawed, was guided into the main current. Some oldtimers might remember how the log rafts being pushed to the saw mills along the St. Marys. There the wood was processed and loaded on vessels from many ports. These ships are gone, the treaties have all been signed and now Coleraine sleeps. Campfires might still sparkle along the riverbanks, but if one should ask the fisherman or the hunter, after he returns to town, "Did you camp at Coleraine?" the answer, more than likely, will be "Coleraine? Where's that?" This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 13.7 Kb